GEORGETOWN: Police smashed a drug smuggling and distribution syndicate with the seizure of RM26.1 million worth of drugs here on Tuesday. The operation was conducted by a team from Bukit Aman’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department with assistance from its Penang counterparts, Narcotics Nucleus Secretariat (SNN), Narcotics Suppression Bureau of Thailand, as well as the Thai Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB). Federal Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department deputy director, Datuk Kang Chez Chiang, said the 6.15pm raid led police to 506 kilos (kg) of syabu and 26,000 ecstasy pills at six separate locations in Penang. Four men, aged between 35 and 59, who had criminal records for drugs and other offences, were also arrested. They were believed to be among the syndicate’s leaders. “We found 473 packets of Chinese tea packed with 506 kg of syabu. Thirteen other packets contained 26,000 ecstasy pills, believed to have been smuggled in from Golden Triangle countries using the Thailand-Malaysia route. “The discovery has led us to believe that Penang was used as a transit point for drug smuggling and distribution activities, before the drugs are sold to the local market and exported internationally. “We believe that the syndicate also exported the drugs to Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. They may also have exported drugs to Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and South Korea. “The drugs were believed to have been sent via post, local and international courier services or cargo, via air, land and sea,” he told a press conference at the Penang contingent police headquarters. MORE TO COME